Short Summary

President Jesip Drez Tito of Yugoslavia today (Monday) started a five-day visit to the Soviet Union.

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GV Aircraft taxiing past guard of honour
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SV Orezhnev walks towards aircraft
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LV Tito down steps & greeted by Brezhnev
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GV Band playing
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LV & GV Tito inspects guard
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STV Tito greets Soviet officials
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GV Crowd waving flags
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SV ZOOM BACK TO GV Brezhnev & Tito watch marchpast
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Initials SGM/0135 SGM/0153

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Background: President Jesip Drez Tito of Yugoslavia today (Monday) started a five-day visit to the Soviet Union. At Moscow's Vnukeve Airport -- the one used by President Nixon just two weeks earlier -- the Yugoslav head of state was given a warm welcome by Soviet Party Chief Leonid Brezhnev and other Kremlin leaders.

It was President Tito's first visit since the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia four years ago brought about strained relations. The present visit will strengthen the reconciliation achieved when Mr Brezhnev went to Belgarde last autumn.

A highlight of the current tour is the presentation of the highest award, the Order of Lenin, to President Tito. It was accorded him on his 80th birthday a week ago.

SYNOPSIS: President Tito of Yugoslavia flew to Moscow on Monday for his first visit to the Soviet Union in four years.

Unlike President Nixon's visit two weeks earlier, Soviet Party Chief Leonid Brezhnev led the welcome. President Tito's five-day trip helps normalize relations between the two countries, which have suffered from differences in the past, notably during the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia four years ago. The initial reconciliation was achieved when Mr Brezhnev went to Yugoslavia last autumn.

During President Tito's visit, he was to receive the highest Soviet award, the Order of Lenin, which was accorded him on his eightieth birthday a week earlier. In a welcoming speech, Mr Brezhnev said his mission to Belgrade last autumn had been an important landmark in the relations of the two countries, and he looked forward to further agreement during the present visit.